Features

Come behind the scenes at Pretty Wee Things for a #KitchenTour and see Krissy's kitchen in Queensland, Australia.

My favourite part of our current kitchen is definitely the open planned design. I love to be able to spend time in the kitchen while interacting with my family and guests. Our current kitchen has taught me a lot about what I like and don't like which makes the building/design side easier when it comes to creating our dream home (which we are currently doing!).

Tell us about your kitchen?

Our kitchen is the central room of the house and a gathering spot at the end of a busy day. The dining room, family room and entertaining area all branch from the kitchen in a open style. Unfortunately, our kitchen has next to NO storage space and only ONE power point (I know, who on Earth designed it!). The upside is that I have had to be savvy about the kitchen appliances and supplies I keep. I like to keep my kitchen tidy and minimalistic.

What have you done to make your kitchen cosy, functional, beautiful or inspiring?

I love having an open cook book in my kitchen for inspiration. I rarely follow recipes (hence the reason I have a food blog) but I love the pretty pictures! One of my favourite cook book authors is Donna Hay. Her books are beautifully crafted and make for the perfect kitchen display. I prefer to keep the rest of the kitchen minimalistic and tidy, but again I think that comes down to having little room for movement. I only keep out the appliances I use every day (microwave, stick blender, toaster and kettle). I am also a huge fan of candles while cooking in the afternoon. I love the smell and the ambience. I display my wedding flowers in my kitchen too because they add such a beautiful touch and I am allergic to fresh flowers (they are real-touch fake flowers).

How do you keep organized while cooking?

I'm definitely a clean-as-you-go kind of cook. I am terrible at pre-planning recipes/dishes because I NEVER follow a recipe, but I will always clean as I go and make sure anything I get out I put away once it's used. I keep my everyday pantry foods in Tupperware and they are the most accessible in my pantry. I also follow a minimalistic approach when it comes to utensils and appliances. Everything has a place and is returned to it's spot once clean. I find the cooking process more enjoyable when everything is where it's meant to be.

Any tips & tricks for organising your pantry, fridge and ingredients?

Definitely to delegate space and throw anything that isn't used. A few months ago I realised I had no space in my pantry and after a complete clean out I was able to give away almost an entire start-up kitchen to a family in need. I think it's easy to get caught up in the latest gadgets and utensils but unless you are going to use it every day or it has a unique purpose it probably isn't needed. Less is more when it comes to kitchen organisation. I like to keep my muesli's in glass jars so I can easily see how much I have left, and when it comes to storing fruits and veggies I always opt for no bags. On any given day you will find my fruit and veggie draw filled with loose fresh organic produce.

Do you do a lot of cooking and what are your favourite dishes to make?

Cooking is my meditation. I love to unwind by stepping into the kitchen and creating. My favourite meal to make is breakfast. I feel like breakfast should be an all-day meal! I love to have my son in the kitchen with me too now that he is older and wiser (i.e. no longer fooled by my hidden veggie tricks). Cooking family meals together means he is 99% more likely to eat his meal. I don't have specific favourite dishes to cook because I love to cook with whatever I have handy and will make whatever I feel inspired to make on any given day. One necessity is that my kitchen is always filled with nutritious and fresh whole foods.

Where do you turn for new recipe ideas?

Pinterest is my absolute favourite tool when it comes to meal inspiration. I also love attempting to re-create dishes I have had at restaurants and cafes.

Do you plan out your recipes for the week or do you like to be spontaneous?

I meal prep but I don't plan, if that makes sense. I prepare the basics for the week including my lunches and staple foods like steamed veggies, cooked pasta/rice and salads. But, when it comes to meal time I like to be spontaneous because I find cooking relaxing and fun.

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make this your dream kitchen?

Well, we have the plans for our dream kitchen! Our dream kitchen has a butler's pantry and I am beyond excited about it! I love the idea of having a space to create without making the rest of the kitchen untidy. I am also planning for white stone bench tops because at the moment all my blog photos are taken on a tile on the floor of my dining room (behind the scenes secrets!). And finally, more storage and power points! I would love to have more space for beautiful serving dishes and maybe even a Thermomix!